Castle Cary 2 Wrington Redhill 3
This Christmas Eve fixture ended the 2022 year, and the result ensured the team retained a top three position and keep them in the promotion hunt. Despite the lengthy journey the management team were pleased that the whole squad was available for selection when family demands is an important commitment at this time.
It was the home side that came out of the blocks fast and furious using the advantage of a sloping pitch towards the Wrington Redhill goal area. In an early attack Josh Pitt slipped on the greasy surface which left Callum Collings one on one with Matt Hill and he coolly fired into the net for a 1-0 lead. Castle Carey continued to move the ball quickly and directly making it difficult for their visitors to get any grip or rhythm into their game. During this period, a number of scoring opportunities were spurned including one effort striking the woodwork.A big part in this was due to the heroic efforts of Ethan Johnson winning a lot of the ball and some vital tackles.
Remarkably Wrington Redhill found an equaliser. With a ball played into the home box George Fake was pushed by a defender and the referee pointed to the spot waving away protests from the home side. Composing himself Fake stepped up and fiercely drove the ball past keeper Daniel Blackburn. This goal sparked his team into life and all round the players reacted and started to play some of the attractive football of which they are capable. Another goal soon came from that man ‘Mr Goals’ Fake. A ball was threaded to him and whilst it looked as though he had taken the ball to far to his left of goal still managed to wrap his ;left foot on the ball and fired across Blackburn and notch up his second of the half.
It was bemusing to think after such a poor start the half way mark was reached with a 2-1 lead.
There was no slouching as the game re-started and soon the lead was extended when Reece Ferguson-Obamwonyi followed one of his traditional trade-mark runs and drilled the ball under the advancing Blackburn. The team went on to control most of the game thereon but failed to convert more chances as Ollie Clements and Leigh White gained midfield control.
To their credit Castle Carey did not cave in and after slack marking Nick Hewlett squeezed the ball past Hill from a tight angle which led to a nervy end to the game and relief to the loyal supporters when the referee blew the final whistle securing the 3-2 victory.
The Payer of the Match award went to Ethan Johnson.
Team:
Goalkeeper: Matt Hill
Defence: Josh Pitt, Dan Ferguson, Ethan Johnson, Jordon Bonner
Midfield: Sam Harvey, Ollie Clements, Leigh White
Forwards: Joe Creese, George Fake, Reece Ferguson-Obamwonyi
Substitutes: Jack Hutchings (for George Fake), Matt Walsh (for Reece Ferguson-Obamwonyi), Ayrton Phillips (for Sam Harvey)